Aarmau: Remember Me, Remember Us, Just Remember

Chapter 106

Aaron closes his eyes for a second and releases a slow shaky breath as he tightens his arms around her. He should have known everything had been a little too perfect lately especially since he remembers the trouble he gave his parents after the lodge.

He can't even begin to count the number of flashbacks and nightmares he had during the last six months of his recovery. He doesn't want to think of how many people he could have hurt if they hadn't been as strong as him.

Aaron gently pushes to his feet with Aph still in his arms and carries her upstairs to their room. She's still shaking and sobbing so hard he's beyond worried for her. There's only so much the mind can take before it breaks and would she come back from it.

She's been so upbeat and overall happy the last couple of weeks he completely forgot the hell they put her through. Was it all just an act to keep everyone from worrying about her?

He carefully sits down on the bed and scoots back until his back rests against the wall behind him. He cradles her against him, rests his cheek against the top of her head, softly rubs her back, and simply lets her cry it out.

He has no idea how long he sat there waiting for her to wear herself down but he had no intention of rushing her. When her sobs turn into small hiccups and her heartbeat has calmed he takes a chance and says one word. "Aph?"

She turns her face into his chest and fists her hands in the material of his shirt. Breathing deep, filling her lungs with his scent she sighs. "Maybe they're right. Maybe I'm too unpredictable, a monster that should be caged and locked away. I could have hurt someone, killed them. I was going to hurt you!"

Aaron could kill the bastards for doing this to her. He lifts her away from him until she has no choice but to look at him. "I don't ever want to hear you talk like that. When you learned about me being the Ultima you insisted I wasn't a monster. You were there for me, stood by me and I will do no different. Your friends will do no different. I forgot about what they did to you. If I hadn't I would have been better prepared. I failed you, I didn't protect you like I was supposed to."

Aph closes her eyes. She feels so ashamed of herself for how she acted and wouldn't blame anyone if they never spoke to her again. "I shouldn't need to be protected."

Aaron sighs, "We all need protecting from time to time."

Aph opens her eyes to look into his. She doesn't see fear or disgust, only love. She shakes her head and groans, "But for me, that's all the time! How am I ever going to face them again?"

Aaron opens his mouth to speak when the bedroom door opens and they watch Garroth, Travis and Katelyn step into the room. She turns to look at them, afraid of what they have to say.

They move over to the bed and Garroth offers her a gentle smile, "The same way the three of us faced everyone we had hurt. The difference Aph is that you haven't actually hurt anyone. You were damn scary but you still held back. We can't say the same."

Aph frowns, "But you were being controlled by those damn Forever potions. I don't have that excuse."

Katelyn scoffs, "Like hell you don't. You are our Aphmau and we all love you but no matter how much we all want to ignore or deny it you are also Irene. You have her soul, her powers, her memories, and from what Emmalyn says you will act out when threatened or backed into a corner just like her. You stepped into your powers and took control of them but even the most seasoned magic-user will fall back on instinct when in a fight or flight situation. Hell, even non-users are like that. After what the Guardian Force put you through I'm pretty sure this will not be the last time this happens but we'll be ready and we'll make sure to talk you off the ledge."

Aph laughs, "Or you could just push me off, problem solved."

Garroth guffaws, "I remember seeing you with wings Aph. You'd just fly off."

Katelyn's eyes widened, "Oh yeah I completely forgot about those!"

Travis shakes his head, "Alright people, now that we're feeling better can we go down and eat some breakfast? I'm starving."

Aph's stomach growls and they all start to laugh. Aaron chuckles as he tightens his arms around her and is relieved to feel as if a heavy weight has been lifted. "It would seem Aph is too."